Boots in Alton has told customers they must now re-order their repeat medications themselves, seven to ten days in advance.

A notice at the High Street branch confirmed the change, and staff clarified it is now down to patients to ask their surgery to re-order medication a week before it is needed.

The change is part of a national shift by Boots, but has been described as “hugely concerning” by the Chawton Park Surgery patient participation group (PPG).

Ian Saunders, of the PPG, said: “The issue with Boots is a national one and something that hugely concerns us. I can only say that many questions need answering.

“As a group representing patients, we have huge concerns that once again, certain groups of patients will find themselves completely sidelined by Boots change of policy.

“We suspect that changes of policy have probably come from ‘on high’ and have also been influenced by possible staffing and personnel issues within the company and certainly have nothing whatsoever to do with surgeries, GPs, and other healthcare professionals working at primary healthcare level.

The Herald has invited Boots to comment.